Sometimes you read something that just makes your eyes water. The founders of our country, of great and diverse politics and personal backgrounds, managed to fashion a Rube Goldberg-machine into probably the greatest experiment in human history.

Thomas Jefferson wrote this piece eight days before his death and the death of his co-founder of America, sometimes close friend and sometimes bitter foe, John Adams. Together they, numerous other leaders, and many colonials, some as young as 15 years, with their toil and in many cases blood wrested the United States away from a great and relatively benficient British Empire, to start something even greater.

The kind invitation I receive from you on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration of the 50th. anniversary of American independance; as one of the surviving signers of an instrument pregnant with our own, and the fate of the world, is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposed for the comfort of such a journey. it adds sensibly to the sufferings of sickness, to be deprived by it of a personal participation in the rejoicings of that day. but acquiescence is a duty, under circumstances not placed among those we are permitted to controul. I should, indeed, with peculiar delight, have met and exchanged there congratulations personally with the small band, the remnant of that host of worthies, who joined with us on that day, in the bold and doubtful election we were to make for our country, between submission or the sword; and to have enjoyed with them the consolatory fact, that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made.may it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the Signal of arousing men to burst the chains, under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings & security of self-government. that form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. all eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. the general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view. the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of god. these are grounds of hope for others. for ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.

I will ask permission here to express the pleasure with which I should have met my ancient neighbors of the City of Washington and of it's vicinities, with whom I passed so many years of a pleasing social intercourse; an intercourse which so much relieved the anxieties of the public cares, and left impressions so deeply engraved in my affections, as never to be forgotten. with my regret that ill health forbids me the gratification of an acceptance, be pleased to receive for yourself, and those for whom you write, the assurance of my highest respect and friendly attachments.

Makes me proud to have my favorite team in USA as well as Knowing they defied the Canadian Xenphobs bout National-centric superiority.

I totally agree.

On the occasion of July 4, US Independence Day and close to Dominion Day, I will affirmatively and strongly state that we owe a lot of our prosperity and happiness to having perhaps the best neighbors one can have; neighbors with a common culture, common history (up to 1774 that is), similar language and familial and business ties that make the relationship stronger than blood.

The U.S. is a more brassily patriotic country. Tonight, my wife and I watched fireworks displays and patriotic concerts preceding them from across the country. I don't believe in any country do you hear, in so many cities and spontaneously organized (with no government input) medleys of songs such as:

Yankee Doodle;

She's a Grand Old Flag;

G-d Bless America;

Our Country T'is of Thee (plagarized from G-d Save the Queen);

This Land is Your Land (authored by a committed Leftist, almost Communist); and of course

The Star Spangled Banner.

I am posting the lyrics of This Land is Your Land to show that the patriotism in our country runs deeply, and well across political lines:

This Land Is Your Land (link to lyric provider)
This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:
I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding:
This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me

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